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SAGE Journal Articles

SJ-userguide.pdf

Article 1: Deering, C. J. and Maltzman, F. (December 1999). The Politics of Executive Orders: Legislative Constraints on Presidential Power. Political Research Quarterly 52(4). 767-783.

This article discusses Presidents use of executive orders as a way to circumvent the policymaking process. The authors argue that strategic presidents often use executive order to circumvent a hostile Congress, but not likely if they are to be overturned by Congress. The authors test their hypothesis by looking at the annual variation in the number of orders issued during the post World War II period.

Questions to Consider:

1. What is the conventional wisdom regarding presidents and the use of executive orders?

2. What approach to the authors take when testing their hypothesis? Are there any issues with their methodology?

3. Which measures are used to test the hypothesis that president issue more executive orders as their support in Congress declines?

4. Are executive orders a viable strategy for presidents?

Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe the historical role of the presidency

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Article 2: Teten, R. L. (December 2007). “We the People” The “Modern” Rhetorical Popular Address of the Presidents during the Founding Period. Political Research Quarterly 60(4). 669-682.

This article discusses the use of popular rhetoric within the presidents State of the Union Addresses in order to determine whether presidents consistently use the tool of going public and whether it is in fact a modern development. The author finds that former presidents also exhibited modern tendencies in their addresses.

Questions to Consider:

1. What is the difference between the traditional and modern presidency?

2. What is the going public thesis and do all presidents use this tool to gain the publics support on various policies?

Learning Objective(s): 7.1 Describe the historical role of the presidency; 7.2 Discuss the modern presidency’s roles, powers, and challenges; 7.3 Explain the dilemma of the president as a strategic actor.

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Article 3: Whitford, A. B. and Ochs, H. L. (November 2006). The Political Roots of Executive Clemency.   American Politics Research 34(6). 825-846.

This article addresses the conventional wisdom that president’s pardons are political. The authors move beyond this assertion and assess five ways that pardons may be influenced by the policy agendas in the American system of separated powers. The authors find that probability for pardon denials reflects the president’s agenda and ideological position, congressional attention to crime rates, and homicide rates.

Questions to Consider:

1. What does the existing literature focus on?

2. How is the clemency power used to check the power of the judicial branch?

Learning Objective(s): 7.1 Describe the historical role of the presidency; 7.2 Discuss the modern presidency’s roles, powers, and challenges

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CQ Researcher

Logic7eCh7-presidentialpower.pdf

Lyons, C. L. (March 2015). Presidential Power. CQ Researcher 25(10). 217-240.

This article discusses President Obama's recent moves to shape U.S. policy, ranging from taking executive action on immigration to beginning to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba. Every president has stretched the constitutional boundaries separating the executive branch from the legislative and judicial, using executive orders, recess appointments, vetoes and other tools to accomplish policy goals. The debate over executive power has become more heated in recent years, partly because congressional gridlock has made it harder for presidents to carry out their agendas through legislation.

Questions to Consider:

1. How has congressional gridlock impeded President Obama’s executive power?

2. Discuss the controversy over presidential power.

Learning Objective(s): 7.1 Describe the historical role of the presidency; 7.2 Discuss the modern presidency’s roles, powers, and challenges